2005 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

No prices were available for this wine. Visit
wine-searcher.com to see pricing for other vintages of this wine.

Expert Ratings and Reviews

88 Points
Vinous Media

Customer Ratings

Based on 15 ratings

K. T.

Smooth&Wonderful

Oct 26, 2010

I bought this bottle brought it home opened it up poured it in the decanter let it breath, about 30 minutes. Poured a glass, took a sip WOW i think it is a wonderful full body cab, tastes of oak and on the finish notes of spice. A wonderful and Smooth Finish, i personaly would recommend every time you buy one you collect one for later...

R. A.

Enjoyed it

Apr 26, 2008

Enjoyed it with a steak at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

B. L.

Mar 23, 2008

Enjoyed with a good steak at Malone's in Lexington, KY.

Other Vintages of Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Napa Valley 2005

The 2005 vintage in Napa was one of the best of the decade, with balanced, lovely wines with plenty of depth, richness, and concentration, all balanced by lovely fresh acidity and detail. Classic, structured, and deep, they should age well for decades.

A wet winter was followed in March by a dry, mild spell, then a wet, rainy period that delayed bloom and fruit set. Rains continued into April, May, and even into June. Some parts of Napa Valley had more than 15 inches of rain after bud break, creating problems for growers. Vineyard management costs skyrocketed as the moisture spurred weed growth, and powdery mildew was a big problem.

Summer was moderate, without any real extremes of heat. The cool temperatures and foggy mornings kept ripening moving slowly, and there was some concern with sugar levels and overall ripeness as the harvest began to approach. September arrived with beautiful, warm, sunny days — and an Indian summer allowed winemakers to wait as sugar accumulated at an even pace, while keeping the grapes balanced with good acidity. It was a very late vintage and a very large crop as well, beating out the previous record set in 1997. Many didn’t finish picking until late October and even into November, but the long hang-time was beneficial and the weather held for the most part.

The resulting wines are seamless, elegant yet structured and deep, with lovely well-knit fruit and tannins. They may not have the power and ripe, plush notes of some of the other top vintages of the decade — rather, they will be known for their beautiful balance and focus. The best should age gracefully for decades to come.

Key Dates

May

Additional 5 inches of rain falls

August

Harvest for sparkling wine began on schedule

September

Weather was mild throughout the month, with no heat spikes of any consequence

October

Harvest for still wine didn’t begin in earnest until October, because of mild September weather. The main Cabernet Sauvignon harvest began in the middle of October and continued until the middle of November